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Safety Net Program 
AquaSeed® is working to assist in the conservation of endangered salmon stock by applying Safety-Net Programs to prevent any further deterioration of the salmon stocks in the Pacific Northwest. AquaSeed created the first such private program in the region for Columbia River Spring chinook.
In a broad sense, the Safety-Net Program is a gene-bank program in which fish are held in captive facilities throughout their entire life cycle. The objective of AquaSeed's diversity and Safety-Net Program is to produce viable eggs or smolts that meet criteria related to fish health and genetic diversity. This is unlike traditional salmon enhancement programs that are based on fresh water facilities and produce salmon juveniles (smolts), which are released into the sea at minimum size and uniformity. As an essential component of international species conservation, this technology has gained wide acceptance as a means to preserve endangered species in the United States. Fisheries scientists recognize that aggressive habitat improvement will take several generations to complete. In the case of the endangered Snake River sockeye, a comprehensive program was implemented when it was recognized that it could take more than 9 generations (over 50 years) for the river's natural population to recover to 1,000 adult fish. Captive breeding, on the other hand, could achieve the same result in one generation (4-6 years) utilizing a state-of-the-art Safety-Net Program. Therefore a Safety-Net Program may offer the best chance for continued existence of endangered populations such as the Snake River sockeye and Columbia River Spring chinook salmon. Home | About Us | Products | Conservation | Contact Us | Resources | Sitemap Copyright © 2008 AquaSeed Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Trademarks. |
